Passive fire stopping plays a critical role in maintaining fire compartmentation and ensuring a building complies with fire safety law. Whether it’s a cable tray running through a wall or pipework penetrating a ceiling, any breach in a fire-rated barrier can allow fire and smoke to spread rapidly, making proper fire stopping not only essential for safety, but also a legal requirement under UK regulations.
This guide outlines what building owners and facilities management companies need to know about passive stopping and compliance across different sectors, including commercial, healthcare, education and housing.
What is passive fire stopping?
Passive fire stopping involves sealing gaps and service penetrations in fire-rated walls, floors and ceilings using tested, approved materials. Effective installation and official documentation of these systems ensures that compartmentation is maintained and the fire integrity of the structure remains uncompromised.
Fire safety legal requirements
In the UK, fire stopping is regulated under several key frameworks.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO)
Applies to all non-domestic buildings (commercial, public and multi-occupancy residential). It requires that the “responsible person” ensures that premises are safe in the event of fire, including maintaining fire compartmentation and stopping.
Building Regulations 2010: Approved Document B (Fire Safety)
Covers the design and construction standards for new and refurbished buildings. Section B3 states that buildings must be designed so that “the spread of fire and smoke within the building is inhibited by sub-dividing it with fire-resisting construction.”
Fire Safety Act 2021 & Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Reinforce duties around compartmentation in multi-occupied residential buildings, especially those over 11 metres in height. This includes ensuring all fire doors, walls and fire-stopping measures are properly installed and maintained.
Sector-specific considerations
Commercial properties
Landlords, facilities managers and tenants must ensure compartmentation is intact and routinely inspected. Changes to layout (e.g. CAT A or B fit-outs) often breach fire compartments, so post-refurb surveys and fire-stopping updates are vital.
Healthcare
Hospitals and care settings fall under HTM 05-02 guidance, which includes enhanced fire-stopping standards. Fire doors and service penetrations in patient areas must be stringently maintained, with fire-stopping products selected and installed to high performance standards.
Education
Schools and colleges must comply with BB100: Design for Fire Safety in Schools. Service voids and risers are common in these settings, so maintaining effective fire stopping around cables and pipes is essential to protect escape routes and classrooms.
Social housing and multi-occupancy residential
Landlords and housing associations are under increased scrutiny, particularly since the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Regular compartmentation surveys, proper documentation and fire-stopping work carried out by competent contractors are required to remain compliant with building safety legislation.
How to stay compliant
Non-compliance can result in enforcement action, legal liability and, most importantly, risk to life. Follow these steps to remain compliant:
- Appoint a responsible team member to oversee fire safety.
- Carry out regular compartmentation surveys and risk assessments.
- Record and document all fire-stopping works and materials used.
- Use third-party certified contractors and products tested to BS EN standards.
Get in touch with CMC Fire Stopping
We offer comprehensive fire stopping installation, fire compartmentation surveys and remediation services across all sectors. Get in touch today to find out how we can maximise fire safety across your premises.
